Stereoscopic image display device and electronic device with the same

ABSTRACT

A stereoscopic image display device including a light source and a light controller for selectively transmitting or blocking light provided by the light source. The light controller includes a first substrate, and first and second electrodes alternatively formed on the first substrate along a first direction. The first and second electrodes are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval. The first and second electrodes are electrically connected, respectively, to first and second connection electrodes. The light controller also includes a second substrate which is substantially parallel to the first substrate, and third and fourth electrodes alternately formed on the second substrate along a second direction. The third and fourth electrodes are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval. The third and forth electrodes are electrically connected, respectively, to third and fourth connection electrodes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 11/136,858filed on May 24, 2005 which claims priority to and the benefit of thefiling date of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0083459 filed Oct.19, 2004, the disclosure of which are incorporated fully herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a stereoscopic image display device,and more particularly, to a display device for realizing a stereoscopicimage by using a light transmission/block module of the liquid crystalbarrier type and an electronic device having the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, three dimensional (“3D”) displays supply different views tothe left and right eyes of a user such that the user can have the depthand 3D perception of the viewing images. The 3D displays may beclassified into stereoscopic displays for which the user should wearviewing aids, such as polarizing glasses, and autostereoscopic displayswith which the user can see a desired 3D image without wearing suchviewing aids.

A common autostereoscopic display utilizes an optical split element (oroptical separation element), such as a lenticular lens or a parallaxbarrier, to spatially separate the left eye image and the right eyeimage displayed at the image display unit in the directions of the leftand right eyes of the user, respectively.

In order to meet the needs of consumers, a display portion of monitorsor mobile phones is not fixed to be a landscape type which is longer inthe horizontal direction or a portrait type which is longer in thevertical direction, but can be used as either type in accordance withthe selection by the user. The change of the display pattern can beachieved by mechanically rotating a display portion by 90 degrees withrespect to the body of the electronic device.

In accordance with the current trend in the development of theelectronic devices, if such a stereoscopic image display device couldsupply stereoscopic images corresponding to each pattern of the displayportion, it can provide much higher satisfaction of use to users.However, stereoscopic image display devices which have been developeduntil now could supply three dimensional images only as either thelandscape type or the portrait type, but not both, because of thelimitation of the optical split element.

Accordingly, although users want to see an image realized on a displayportion as two or three dimensional image at various patterns of adisplay portion through one electronic device, such a stereoscopic imagedisplay device has not yet been provided, and thus, it is desirable toprovide such a device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided astereoscopic image display device in which a three dimensional image canbe appropriately realized in accordance with the changed pattern of adisplay portion even in the case where the pattern of the displayportion for realizing an image is changed as needed.

In addition, an electronic device having the above image display deviceis provided.

In an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention, astereoscopic image display device for providing a stereoscopic image toa user, is provided. The stereoscopic image display device includes alight source and a light controller for selectively transmitting orblocking light provided by the light source. The light controllerincludes a first substrate, and first electrodes formed on the firstsubstrate along a first direction of the first substrate. The firstelectrodes are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval.A first connection electrode is arranged on one side of the firstelectrodes and electrically connected to the first electrodes to form afirst electrode set together with the first electrodes. Secondelectrodes are formed along the first direction and arranged between thefirst electrodes. A second connection electrode is arranged on one sideof the second electrodes and electrically connected to the secondelectrodes to form a second electrode set together with the secondelectrodes.

In addition, the light controller includes a second substrate, and thirdelectrodes formed on the second substrate along a second direction whichis perpendicular to the first direction. The third electrodes are spacedapart from each other at a predetermined interval. A third connectionelectrode is arranged on one side of the third electrodes andelectrically connected to the third electrodes to form a third electrodeset together with the third electrodes. Fourth electrodes are formedalong the second direction arranged between the third electrodes. Afourth connection electrode is arranged on one side of the fourthelectrodes and electrically connected to the fourth electrodes to form afourth electrode set together with the fourth electrodes. The lightcontroller also includes liquid crystal disposed between the firstsubstrate and the second substrate.

At least one of the first electrodes may be arranged between the secondelectrodes, and a number of the first electrodes that are arrangedbetween two neighboring ones of the second electrodes may be the same atall locations on the first substrate.

At least one of the second electrodes may be arranged between twoneighboring ones of the first electrodes, and a number of the secondelectrodes that are arranged between two neighboring ones of the firstelectrodes may be the same at all locations on the first substrate.

At least one of the third electrodes may be arranged between the fourthelectrodes, and a number of the third electrodes that are arrangedbetween two neighboring ones of the fourth electrodes may be the same atall locations on the second substrate.

At least one of the fourth electrodes may be arranged between the thirdelectrodes, and a number of the fourth electrodes that are arrangedbetween two neighboring ones of the third electrodes may be the same atall locations on the second substrate.

The first substrate may be formed in a shape of a rectangle having apair of long sides and a pair of short sides, and the first directionmay be a direction along the short sides of the first substrate. Thefirst electrodes and the second electrodes may be configured as a commonelectrode.

Further, the second substrate may be formed in a shape of a rectanglehaving a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides, and the seconddirection may be a direction along the long sides of the secondsubstrate. The third electrodes and the fourth electrodes may beconfigured as a segment electrode.

The stereoscopic image display device may further include an imager fordisplaying a left eye image and a right eye image, wherein the imagermay be interposed between the light source and the light controller.

The stereoscopic image display device may further include an imager fordisplaying a left eye image and a right eye image, wherein the lightcontroller may be interposed between the light source and the imager.The imager may be a liquid crystal display panel.

The electrodes of the first electrode set, the electrodes of the secondelectrode set, the electrodes of the third electrode set, and theelectrodes of the fourth electrodes may be formed in a shape of a comb.

In another exemplary embodiment according to the present invention, astereoscopic image display device for providing a stereoscopic image toa user, is provided. The stereoscopic image display device includes alight source and a light controller for selectively transmitting orblocking light provided by the light source.

The light controller includes a first substrate, a surface electrodeformed on a substantially entire surface of the first substrate, and asecond substrate. The light controller also includes branch typeelectrodes, each having a parent electrode portion arranged along onedirection of the second substrate and plural branched electrode portionsformed by branching off from the parent electrode portion. The branchtype electrodes are arranged as multiple layers on the second substratethat are insulated from each other. The light controller also includesliquid crystal disposed between the first substrate and the secondsubstrate. The branched electrode portions of the branch type electrodesare arranged to cross over each other.

The parent electrode portions of the branch type electrodes may bearranged to cross over each other.

The parent electrode portion of one branch type electrode of the branchtype electrodes may be arranged to be parallel with the branchedelectrode portions of another branch type electrode of the branch typeelectrodes.

An electronic device according to yet another exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention may include a display portion including one of thestereoscopic image display devices mentioned above and a body rotatablyconnected to the display portion.

Such electronic devices may be used as mobile devices such as mobilephones or as office devices such as monitors.

In yet another exemplary embodiment according to the present invention,a method of driving a stereoscopic image display device is provided. Themethod includes:

in a first mode when the light controller is in a predeterminedposition,

applying a reference voltage to the first electrode set and the secondelectrode set; selecting one electrode set of the third electrode setand the fourth electrode set; and applying a data voltage thereto tosplit an image into a left eye image and a right eye image; and

in a second mode when the light controller is rotated from thepredetermined position,

applying a reference voltage to the third electrode set and the fourthelectrode set; selecting one electrode set of the first electrode setand the second electrode set; and applying a data voltage thereto tosplit an image into a left eye image and a right eye image.

In yet another exemplary embodiment according to the present invention,a method of driving a stereoscopic image display device is provided. Themethod includes:

in a first mode when the light controller is in a predeterminedposition,

applying a reference voltage to the surface electrode; selecting onebranch type electrode of the branch type electrodes; and applying a datavoltage thereto to split an image into a left eye image and a right eyeimage; and

in a second mode when the light controller is rotated from thepredetermined position to another position,

applying a reference voltage to the surface electrode; selecting anotherbranch type electrode of the branch type electrodes; and applying a datavoltage thereto to split an image into a left eye image and a right eyeimage.

In yet another exemplary embodiment according to the present invention,a stereoscopic image display device is provided. The stereoscopic imagedisplay device includes a display panel for displaying an image, thedisplay panel having a pair of first sides and a pair of second sides.The stereoscopic image display device also includes a light controlleradjacent to the display panel for separating the image into a left eyeimage and a right eye image. The light controller is adapted to separatethe image into the left eye image and the right eye image to provide astereoscopic image to an observer regardless of whether the first sidesor the second sides are substantially parallel to a line between eyes ofthe observer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features of the present invention will become moreapparent by describing certain exemplary embodiments thereof in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first mode of an electronic deviceaccording to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second mode of the electronic deviceaccording to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a stereoscopic image display deviceaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic drawings that illustrate pixel patterns ofan imager according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a light controller according to afirst exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are plan views that illustrate electrode portionsaccording to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are plan views that illustrate a driving status for thefirst mode of the light controller according to the first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view that illustrate an operational status of thestereoscopic image display device according to the first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are plan views that illustrate a driving status for thesecond mode of the light controller according to the first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a light controller according to asecond exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a surface electrode according to the secondexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are plan views that illustrate branch type electrodesaccording to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13A is a plan view that illustrates a driving status for the firstmode of the light controller according to the second exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13B is a plan view that illustrates a driving status for the secondmode of the light controller according to the second exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a stereoscopic image display deviceaccording to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view that illustrates an electronic deviceaccording to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic device with a stereoscopicimage display device according to one exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device is a mobile phone (i.e., acellular phone) which is one of electronic devices for a portable ormobile use. Those skilled in the art would recognize that the principlesof the present invention can be applied to any mobile electronicdevices, and are not limited to the mobile phone applications. By way ofexample, the principles of the present invention can also be applied toother portable electronic devices such as a personal digital assistant(PDA) or the like.

As known, a mobile phone 1 has a display portion 10 for displaying apredetermined image, and a body 12 connected to the display portion 10.The display portion 10 includes a liquid crystal display device fordisplaying images, and a keypad 14 can be mounted on the body 12 as aninput device.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile phone 1 can provide a user with an imagerealized on the display portion 10 after rotating the display portion 10by a predetermined angle, for example, by 90 degrees with respect to thebody 12.

That is, the mobile phone 1 in FIG. 1 maintains the display portion 10in a portrait mode (hereinafter, “a first mode”) and provides a userwith an image realized on the display portion 10. In FIG. 2 where thedisplay portion 10 is rotated by 90 degrees, the mobile phone 1maintains the display portion 10 in a landscape mode (hereinafter, “asecond mode”) and provides the user with an image realized on thedisplay portion 10.

As the structure/mechanism using which the display portion 10 is rotatedwith respect to the body 12 is known to those skilled in the art, thedetailed description thereof will not be provided herewith.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a stereoscopic image display deviceaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and thestereoscopic image display device forms the display portion 10 of FIGS.1 and 2, for example.

As shown in FIG. 3, the stereoscopic image display device includes alight source 20, an imager 22 arranged on one side of the light source20 to display a predetermined image by receiving the light provided bythe light source 20, and a light controller 24 arranged on one side ofthe imager 22 to split the image realized on the imager 22 into a lefteye image and a right eye image when the user operates the mobile phone1 to display three dimensional images on the display portion 10.

The light source 20 can have a structure such that a point light sourceemitted from a light emitting diode (LED) is changed into an area lightsource through a light guide panel to provide to the imager 22, but thestructure of the light source 20 of the present invention is not limitedthereto. For example, when the electronic device is formed with otherdevices such as an LCD monitor, it can have other structure which useslamps such as cold cathode fluorescent lamps or external electrodefluorescent lamps to provide the light.

The imager 22 of one exemplary embodiment of the present invention has astructure of a liquid crystal display panel, and images can be realizedin color using color filters. When the imager 22 realizes a threedimensional image, it arranges pixels corresponding to a left eye image(L_(R), L_(G), L_(B)) and pixels corresponding to a right eye image(R_(R), R_(G), R_(B)) as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

FIG. 4A shows the arrangement of pixels for a left eye image (L_(R),L_(G), L_(B)) and pixels for a right eye image (R_(R), R_(G), R_(B)) ofthe imager 22 in the first mode, and FIG. 4B shows the arrangement ofpixels for a left eye image (L_(R), L_(G), L_(B)) and pixels for a righteye image (R_(R), R_(G), R_(B)) of the imager 22 in the second mode.

In the present invention, the splitting or separation of the image intoa left eye image and a right eye image can be carried out not only witha single pixel having R, G, B sub pixels as a split unit, but can alsobe carried out with any one or two of R, G, B sub pixels as a splitunit. Further, four or more sub pixels can be regarded as a split unitas well.

In addition, although FIGS. 4A and 4B show the pixels based on R, G, Bcolors, the present invention is not limited only to the electronicdevices for displaying full color images. The colors corresponding tothe sub pixels can also be applied in the black and white mode or othersimple color mode.

As the structure of the LCD panel of the imager 22 has the structure ofthe known LCD panel, no further description will be provided herewith.

The light controller 24 provides the light to a user by transmitting orblocking the light provided by the light source 20. More specifically,the light controller 24 provides the light corresponding to a left eyeimage and the light corresponding to a right eye image which arerealized on the imager 22, thereby enabling the user to perceive theimage as a three dimensional image.

The light controller 24, as described below, can be referred to as aliquid crystal barrier since the light passing through the imager 22 istransmitted or blocked by driving liquid crystal in the light controller24.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a light controller 25 in afirst exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The lightcontroller 25, for example, can be used as the light controller 24 ofFIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 5, the light controller 25 includes twosubstrates, a first substrate 24 a and a second substrate 24 b, whichare spaced apart at a predetermined distance. The first and secondsubstrates 24 a, 24 b are glasses in the shape of a rectangle having apair of short sides and a pair of long sides. FIGS. 5, 6A and 6Btogether illustrate the structure of the light controller 25.

Electrodes for driving liquid crystal 24 c disposed between the firstsubstrate 24 a and the second substrate 24 b are formed on the surfacesof the first substrate 24 a and the second substrate 24 b that face oroppose each other. The electrodes include transparent material such asindium tin oxide (ITO), and will be further described below.

The electrode formed on one surface of the first substrate 24 a, asshown in FIG. 6A, includes plural first electrodes 24 d which arearranged along a first direction of the first substrate 24 a (adirection corresponding to a short side of the first substrate, i.e.,the X direction of FIG. 6A). These first electrodes 24 d are formed in astripe pattern, are arranged on the first substrate 24 a, and are spacedapart from each other at a predetermined interval. These firstelectrodes 24 d are connected to a first connection electrode 24 earranged on one side of the first substrate 24 a (i.e., along the leftedge of the substrate 24 a in FIG. 6A), such that the electrodes form acomb-shaped first electrode set (Set 1) which includes the firstconnection electrode 24 e and the first electrodes 24 d.

In the same manner, a comb-shaped second electrode set (Set 2) is formedon the first substrate 24 a. The second electrode set (Set 2) includessecond electrodes 24 f formed along the first direction (X) and arrangedbetween the first electrodes 24 d, and a second connection electrode 24g connected to the second electrodes 24 f. The second connectionelectrode 24 g is arranged on the other side of the first substrate 24 aopposite to the first connection electrode 24 e (i.e., along the rightedge of the first substrate 24 a in FIG. 5).

The first electrode set (Set 1) and the second electrode set (Set 2) areformed on the first substrate 24 a to substantially cover the entirearea corresponding to the active area of the imager 22. The distancebetween one of the first electrodes 24 d and an adjacent one of thesecond electrodes 24 f should be less than or equal to 6 μm.

In the same manner, a third electrode set (Set 3) and a fourth electrodeset (Set 4), which are also comb-shaped, are formed on a surface of thesecond substrate 24 b opposite to the first substrate 24 a.

The third electrode set (Set 3) and the fourth electrode set (Set 4)respectively include plural third electrodes 24 h and fourth electrodes24 i that are arranged along one direction of the second substrate 24 b.The third electrodes are spaced apart from each other at a predeterminedinterval, and the fourth electrodes are spaced apart from each other ata predetermined interval. The third electrode set (Set 3) and the fourthelectrode set (Set 4) also respectively include a third connectionelectrode 24 j and a fourth connection electrode 24 k that arerespectively connected to the third electrodes 24 h and the fourthelectrodes 24 i.

However, unlike the first and second electrodes 24 d, 24 f, the thirdelectrodes 24 h and the fourth electrodes 24 i are arranged along asecond direction (i.e., the Y direction) which is perpendicular to thefirst direction (i.e., X direction), i.e., along the long side of thesecond substrate 24 b while maintaining a stripe pattern. That is, thefirst electrodes 24 d and the second electrodes 24 f are arranged tovertically cross the third electrodes 24 h and the fourth electrodes 24i when the first substrate 24 a and the second substrate 24 b areassembled together.

The third electrode set (Set 3) and the fourth electrode set (Set 4) areformed on the second substrate 24 b to substantially cover the entirearea corresponding to the active area of the imager 22. The distancebetween one of the third electrodes 24 h and an adjacent one of thefourth electrodes 24 i should be less than or equal to 6 μm.

In the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, one of thefirst electrodes 24 d is uniformly arranged between the secondelectrodes 24 f on the first substrate 24 a, and one of the secondelectrodes 24 f is also uniformly arranged between the first electrodes24 d on the first substrate 24 a. However, the present invention is notlimited to such a structure. If necessary, more than one of the firstelectrodes 24 d can be arranged between two neighboring secondelectrodes 24 f and/or more than one of the second electrodes 24 f canbe arranged between two neighboring first electrodes 24 d. Moreover, thenumber of the arranged electrodes can be different such that one of thefirst electrodes 24 d can be disposed between two neighboring secondelectrodes 24 f at one location while more than one of the firstelectrodes 24 d are disposed between two neighboring second electrodes24 f at another location to thereby be non-uniformly arranged.Similarly, the number of the second electrodes 24 f disposed between twoneighboring first electrodes 24 d can be different at differentlocations on the substrate 24 a.

Such structures can also be applied to the third electrodes 24 h and thefourth electrodes 24 i.

In the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the firstelectrode set (Set 1) and the second electrode set (Set 2) form a commonelectrode, and the third electrode set (Set 3) and the fourth electrodeset (Set 4) form a segment electrode. However, in other embodiments, thethird electrode set (Set 3) and the fourth electrode set (Set 4) may fora common electrode, while the first electrode set (Set 1) and the secondelectrode set (Set 2) form a segment electrode.

The stereoscopic image display device having the light controller 25 ofthe above structure works as follows. If the user chooses the threedimensional image mode while the display portion 10 of the mobile phone1 is in a portrait mode where the display portion 10 is arrangedvertically, i.e., the first mode as shown in FIG. 1, a reference voltageis applied to the common electrodes, i.e., the first electrode set (Set1) and the second electrode set (Set 2), as shown in FIG. 7A. In moredetail, the reference voltage is applied to the first electrodes 24 d ofthe first electrode set (Set 1) and the second electrodes 24 f of thesecond electrode set (Set 2) through the first connection electrode 24 eof the first electrode set (Set 1) and the second connection electrode24 g of the second electrode set (Set 2), respectively. By way ofexample, the reference voltage can be applied by connecting the firstand second connection electrodes 24 e and 24 g to ground.

At the same time, a data voltage is applied to one of the thirdelectrode set (Set 3) and the fourth electrode set (Set 4) as shown inFIG. 7B to provide an image realized on the imager 22 to the left eyeand the right eye of the user while the image is split into a left eyeimage and a right eye image.

In the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention as shown inFIG. 7B, the data voltage with a predetermined voltage is applied to thefourth electrode set (Set 4).

As described above, if the reference voltage is applied to the firstelectrode set (Set 1) and the second electrode set (Set 2), and the datavoltage is applied to the fourth electrode set (Set 4), the liquidcrystal corresponding to the lines of the fourth electrodes 24 i of thefourth electrode set (Set 4) is driven.

Accordingly, light provided from the pixels corresponding to a left eyeimage and a right eye image of the imager 22 is transmitted at portionswhere the liquid crystal is driven (the fourth line portions), andblocked at portions where the liquid crystal is not driven (the thirdline portions), while it passes through the light controller.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the light is split into the left eye imageand the right eye image by the light controller 24 to be provided,respectively, to the left eye and the right eye of a user, which enablesthe user to perceive the three dimensional image.

On the other hand, in the case where the data voltage is applied to thethird electrode set (Set 3), the liquid crystal corresponding to thelocation of the third electrodes 24 h of the third electrode set (Set 3)is driven.

That is, in this case, compared with the above, the location of thedriven liquid crystal moves as much as the location of the fourthelectrodes 24 i, and the effective locations of the light transmittingportions and the light blocking portions of the light controller 24 arechanged, and accordingly, the user is provided with the imagescorresponding to the left eye and the right eye, respectively, atdifferent locations to thereby obtain the three dimensional image.

The case where the display portion 10 is changed into the second modewill be described below.

If the user rotates the display portion 10 as shown in FIG. 2 tomaintain the display portion 10 to be in a landscape mode where thedisplay portion 10 is arranged longitudinally (the second mode), each ofthe electrode sets formed on the first and second substrates 24 a, 24 bare also rotated respectively as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B to therebymaintain the situation where the electrodes of each of the electrodesets are rotated clockwise from the first mode by 90 degrees.

Under such a situation, the reference voltage and the data voltage areapplied to the common electrode and the segment electrode in theopposite direction to the above.

That is, in the second mode, the reference voltage is applied to thethird electrode set (Set 3) and the fourth electrode set (Set 4) whichare the segment electrodes (FIG. 9B), and the data voltage is applied toone electrode set of the first electrode set (Set 1) and the secondelectrode set (Set 2) which are the common electrodes (the firstelectrode set in the present exemplary embodiment) (See FIG. 9A).

Accordingly, in the second mode, the liquid crystal corresponding to thelines of the first electrodes 24 d of the first electrode set (Set 1) orthe lines of the second electrodes 24 g of the second electrode set (Set2) is driven. By this driving of the liquid crystal, the lighttransmitting portions and the light blocking portions of the lightcontroller 25 are defined to provide the user with the image realized onthe imager 22 as a three dimensional image. As the delivery process ofthe final three dimensional images by driving the liquid crystal can becarried out in substantially the same manner as described above, adetailed description will not be provided to avoid redundancy.

The light controller 25 according to the first exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention can provide the user with the image realized onthe display unit as the three dimensional image according to thestructure of the electrodes formed on the substrate 24 a, 24 b and themethod of voltage application, regardless of whether the display portion20 is in the portrait mode or in the landscape mode.

A second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now bedescribed.

In comparison to the first exemplary embodiment described above, thechanged element in the second exemplary embodiment is the lightcontroller. Thus, a detailed description for the light controller willbe given below, however, a detailed description for other elements willnot be provided to avoid redundancy.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a light controller 40 according tothe second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 10, the light controller 40 also has a structure to provide a userwith an image realized on the imager by driving liquid crystal while theimage is split into a left eye image and a right eye image. The lightcontroller 40 can be used, for example, as the light controller 24 ofFIG. 3 according to the second exemplary embodiment.

The light controller 40 includes two substrates, namely, a firstsubstrate 40 a and a second substrate 40 b, which are arranged to besubstantially parallel to each other. A surface electrode 40 e formed ona substantially entire surface is formed on one surface of one of thetwo substrates, for example, the first substrate 40 a (See FIG. 11).

Branch type electrodes 40 c, 40 d which are substantially the same asthe electrode sets described above are formed on a surface of the secondsubstrate 40 b opposite to the first substrate 40 a. The branch typeelectrodes 40 c, 40 d also have the shape of a comb similar to the aboveelectrode sets.

These branch type electrodes 40 c, 40 d are arranged as multiple layers(double layers for the exemplary embodiment) on the second substrate 40b, and are insulated from each other. For this, an insulating layer 40 fis provided between the branch type electrodes 40 c, 40 d.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are plan views illustrating the branch type electrodes40 c, 40 d. The second branch type electrode 40 d formed on the secondsubstrate 40 b has a parent electrode portion 400 d arranged along thelong side (i.e., the Y direction) of the second substrate 40 b, andplural branched electrode portions 402 d having a stripe patternarranged along the short side (i.e., the X direction) of the secondelectrode 40 b by branching off from the parent electrode portion 400 d.

On the other hand, the first branch type electrode 40 c arranged overthe second branch type electrodes 40 d, has a parent electrode portion400 c arranged along the short side (i.e., the X direction) of thesecond substrate 40 b, and plural branched electrode portions 402 chaving a stripe pattern arranged along the long side (i.e., the Ydirection) of the second electrode 40 b by branching off from the parentelectrode portion 400 c.

If necessary, the first branch type electrode 40 c and the second branchtype electrode 40 d can exchange the shape of their patterns with eachother.

When both of the first branch type electrode 40 c and the second branchtype electrode 40 d with the above structure are arranged on the secondsubstrate 40 b, the branched electrode portion 402 c of the first branchtype electrode 40 c is perpendicular to the branched electrode portion402 d of the second branch type electrode 40 d to form a matrixstructure.

The first substrate 40 a and the second substrate 40 b are assembledtogether with the surface electrode 40 e and the branch type electrodes40 c, 40 d facing or opposing each other, and liquid crystal 40 g isinjected between them.

The light controller 40 with the above structure is arranged as shown inFIG. 3 (where the light controller 40 is used as the light controller 24in the second exemplary embodiment) to provide a user with an imagerealized on the imager 22 as a three dimensional image by transmittingor blocking the light provided by the light source 24.

In the first mode or the second mode of the display portion 10, it worksas follows. In the first mode, a reference voltage is applied to thesurface electrode 40 e, and a data voltage is applied only to the firstbranch type electrode 40 c on the second substrate 40 b, as shown inFIG. 13A.

Then, the liquid crystal 40 g corresponding to the lines of the branchedelectrode portions 402 c of the branch type electrode 40 c is driven,and the light for the image realized on the imager 22 is transmitted orblocked by the light controller 40 which drives the liquid crystal tosplit the image on the imager 22 into a left eye image and a right eyeimage, respectively, which thereby makes the user perceive the imagerealized on the imager 22 as a three dimensional image.

In addition, if the display portion 10 is changed to the second mode,the reference voltage is also applied to the surface electrode 40 e ofthe first substrate 40 a, and unlike the first mode, the data voltage isapplied to the second branch type electrode 40 d on the second substrate40 b (See FIG. 13B).

That is, in the second mode, the second branch type electrode 40 d isarranged vertically on the display portion 10 in the same manner as thefirst branch type electrode 40 c in the first mode. Therefore, if theliquid crystal 40 g corresponding to the lines of the branched electrodeportions 402 d of the second branch type electrode 40 d is driven as thevoltage like the above is applied, the light transmitting portions andthe light blocking portions have substantially the same pattern as inthe first mode, which enables the user to perceive the image realized onthe imager 22 as a three dimensional image without any difficulty evenin the second mode.

As described above, the exemplary embodiments of the present inventioncan provide a user with an appropriate three dimensional imageregardless of whether the display portion is in a portrait mode or in alandscape mode, and, accordingly, the described embodiments can satisfyuser requirements for such a display.

Although the present invention has been described in detail hereinabovein connection with certain exemplary embodiments, it should beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplaryembodiments, but on the contrary is intended to cover variousmodifications and/or equivalent arrangements included within the spiritand scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.

For example, the light controller 24 of the described exemplaryembodiments can be arranged between the light source 20 and the imager22 to work as shown in FIG. 14. Of course, the light controller 24 canbe replaced by the light controller 25 of FIG. 5 or the light controller40 of FIG. 10.

Moreover, in the present invention, the imager for realizing the imagecan include not only a liquid crystal panel but also other displays suchas cathode ray tubes, plasma display panels, field emission displaydevices, and organic light emitting devices. In the latter case, thelight controller, e.g., a liquid crystal barrier, can be arranged infront of the imager.

In addition, the electronic devices of the present invention can beapplied to not only the mobile phone mentioned above but also otherelectronic devices such as monitors as shown in FIG. 15.

The above exemplary embodiments show that the first, second, third, andfourth electrodes of the light controller are formed in a stripepattern, and the light transmitting portions and the light blockingportions are formed in the stripe pattern along one direction of thesubstrate. However, the present invention is not limited to such cases.

That is, the light transmitting portions and the light blocking portionscan be formed, for example, in a zig zag pattern along one direction ofthe substrate. In that case, the first, second, third, and fourthelectrodes of the light controller or the branched electrode portions ofthe branch type electrode in the exemplary embodiments have the shape ofa stair or a zig zag (or meander), which allows the light transmittingportions and the light blocking portions to maintain a zig zag pattern.

If the light transmitting portions and the light blocking portions ofthe light controller of the present invention have the shape of a zigzag, i.e., they are arranged to cross on a straight line along onedirection of the substrate, when realizing a left eye image and a righteye image, the horizontal resolution of the realized image can be thesame as the resolution when realizing a two dimensional image, and thusthe resolution of the stereoscopic image can be improved.

1. A stereoscopic image display device for providing a stereoscopicimage to a user, the stereoscopic image display device comprising: alight source; and a light controller for selectively transmitting orblocking light provided by the light source, wherein the lightcontroller includes, a first substrate; a surface electrode formed on asubstantially entire surface of the first substrate; a second substrate;branch type electrodes, each having a parent electrode portion arrangedalong one direction of the second substrate and plural branchedelectrode portions formed by branching off from the parent electrodeportion, the branch type electrodes being arranged as multiple layers onthe second substrate that are insulated from each other; and liquidcrystal disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate,wherein the branched electrode portions of the branch type electrodesare arranged to cross over each other.
 2. The stereoscopic image displaydevice of claim 1, wherein the parent electrode portions of the branchtype electrodes are arranged to cross over each other.
 3. Thestereoscopic image display device of claim 2, wherein the parentelectrode portion of one branch type electrode of the branch typeelectrodes is arranged to be parallel with the branched electrodeportions of another branch type electrode of the branch type electrodes.4. The stereoscopic image display device of claim 1, further comprisingan imager for displaying a left eye image and a right eye image, whereinthe imager is interposed between the light source and the lightcontroller.
 5. The stereoscopic image display device of claim 1, furthercomprising an imager for displaying a left eye image and a right eyeimage, wherein the light controller is interposed between the lightsource and the imager.
 6. The stereoscopic image display device of claim4, wherein the imager is a liquid crystal display panel.
 7. Thestereoscopic image display device of claim 5, wherein the imager is aliquid crystal display panel.
 8. The stereoscopic image display deviceof claim 1, wherein the branched electrode portions are formed in astripe pattern.
 9. A method of driving a stereoscopic image displaydevice having a light controller, the light controller including, afirst substrate; a surface electrode formed on a substantially entiresurface of the first substrate; a second substrate; branch typeelectrodes, each having a parent electrode portion arranged along onedirection of the second substrate and plural branched electrode portionsformed by branching off from the parent electrode portion, the branchtype electrodes being arranged as multiple layers on the secondsubstrate that are insulated from each other; and liquid crystaldisposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; whereinthe branched electrode portions of the branch type electrodes arearranged to cross over each other, the method comprising: in a firstmode when the light controller is in a predetermined position, applyinga reference voltage to the surface electrode; selecting one branch typeelectrode of the branch type electrodes; and applying a data voltagethereto to split an image into a left eye image and a right eye image;and in a second mode when the light controller is rotated from thepredetermined position to another position, applying a reference voltageto the surface electrode; selecting another branch type electrode of thebranch type electrodes; and applying a data voltage thereto to split animage into a left eye image and a right eye image.
 10. A stereoscopicimage display device, comprising: an imager for realizing an image; anda liquid crystal barrier for splitting the image into a left eye imageand a right eye image to provide the left eye and right eye images,respectively, to the left eye and the right eye of a user, wherein theliquid crystal barrier includes, a first substrate; a surface electrodeformed on a substantially entire surface of the first substrate; asecond substrate; branch type electrodes, each having a parent electrodeportion arranged along one direction of the second substrate and pluralbranched electrode portions formed by branching off from the parentelectrode portion, the branch type electrodes being arranged as multiplelayers on the second substrate that are insulated from each other; andliquid crystal disposed between the first substrate and the secondsubstrate, wherein the branched electrode portions of the branch typeelectrodes are arranged to cross over each other.